Graduates should consider forming partnerships with small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to stimulate growth in these industries.

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi this is how they should put their knowledge and skills to use.

Many graduates are jobless. Instead of waiting to be hired, they should consider helping SMEs by contributing ideas on how to improve their profitability. Business graduates, especially, have the required knowledge in financial management, sales, marketing and product development, which is crucial for the growth of SMEs.

There were now 25 such partnerships involving Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and Felda.

On the downside, there are more than 120 bumiputra-run private institutions of higher learning that winding up, noticed Abdullah. While it is sad that they are ending up this way, he said, it is a clear case of improper planning as similar private institutions managed by non-bumiputras are still operating successfully.

But that is not all to the bad news. Apparently another 30 bumiputra-owned institutions are in critical shape.